Name: Poveromo Paul
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Serial: 0-1010858
Company B
Unit: Qm Supply Bn
Servicebranch: QMC
State, City: New York, Smithtown
Date of birth: 1917-10-30
Date of death: 1988-09-02
Cemetery Saint Patrick’s Cemetery
LTC. Paul Poveromo was born on October 10, 1917, in New York to Italian immigrants. Following high school, he went to work for the H.J. Heinz Company as a book keeper in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1941 with the war in Europe spreading and America drawing closer to entering the war, he enlisted in the United States Army.
LTC. Paul Poveromo initially entered the Army as an enlisted man but wanted more responsibility and desired a long-term career. As 1941 closed and America entered WW II, PVT. Poveromo passed his officers examination and began training at Fort Knox. He learned military protocols, armored formations, and various combat tactics.
By early 1942 he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division as a second lieutenant within an armored company. He went on to train at General Patton’s Desert Training Center in Chiriaco Summit, Ca. east of Palm Springs with his unit where he experienced the desert for the first time. He promoted to 1st lieutenant after the unit left California and moved to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.
In Late 1942, he was given an opportunity to command of his own unit. The skills he mastered with the Heinz Company and his ability to multitask made him a great fit to take command of “B” Company, Supply Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.
Now a Captain he boarded the British Ship “Capetown Castle” in NY with his men and sailed to England.
Once in England “B” Company was billeted at Codford St. Mary, Wiltshire where they participated in extensive maneuvers over the Salisbury Plain. Approximately three weeks after the D-Day Normandy Invasion “B” Company entered combat operations in France. Their critical supplies assisted the Division to “breakout” of the Normandy region and subsequent pursuit across France and Belgium. The storekeepers of the “Spearhead” Division added much to the accomplishment known as the “Miracle of Supply” in Europe. For this great success, Captain Paul Poveromo was awarded the Bronze Star for distinguished service.
In all his company participated in five major campaigns to include the Battle of the Bulge before the war ended. They delivered men to the front lines as well as critical supplies often under enemy fire to keep the war machine moving forward.
After the war ended Captain Poveromo remained in Germany for occupation duty assigned to the Office of Military Government, United States. The task at hand was security, reconstruction, denazification, and tending to thousands of hungry and displaced Germans. He remained in Germany for a few years until he returned to the United States in 1947 to start a family with his beloved wife Domenica. He soon learned he had throat cancer although he never smoked and spent nearly a year recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center.
By 1950 he was assigned to the U.S. Far East Command in Japan. His wife and two children accompanied him to his new duty station. Over the course of the Korean War he served under General Douglas MacArthur as a staff officer within the G3 branch. He made many trips to Korea and was tasked with creating a civil defense plan for non-combatants. By the mid 1950’s and now a Major he moved back to the United States.
Major Poveromo was assigned to US First Army, Headquarters, Fort Jay, at Governors Island, NY until his retirement from active duty in 1963. He oversaw operations and purchasing for all the post exchanges in the North East. Additionally, he received promotion to Lieutenant Colonel prior to discharging and spending a year in the Army Reserve.
Upon retirement his wife and now three children moved to Smithtown, NY near his brothers and other family members. After completing a year in the Army Reserve, LTC. Poveromo finally fully retired from all military duties and began work for Rheingold Beer Company.
During his retirement he helped the Town of Smithtown create their own civil defense plan, enjoyed hunting in Maine with his brothers, and fishing locally on Long Island. He was a well-known craftsman and made many leather goods. By 1973 he moved to Florida where he enjoyed just being a full-time husband, father, and grandfather.
LTC. Poveromo passed away on September 2, 1988 and was buried with full military honors at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Smithtown, NY. LTC Poveromo was a patriot, loved his country, and family and was part of this country’s greatest generation.
List of LTC.Paul Poveromo’s awards:
Bronze Star (WWII)
Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon (WW II)
Army Commendation Medal (upon retirement from Active Duty 1963
European Campaign Medal (5 battle stars
American Campaign Medal
American Defense Medal
WWII Victory Medal
National Defense Medal
Army Occupation Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Korea Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Army Reserve 1963-1964)
Belgian Croix De Guerre Ribbon
A big thank you to Rob Poveromo for the text, pictures and trust.
© Rob Poveromo